Bleak future for Black Forest
Staff Writer | Thursday June 5, 2014 10:32
The competition’s chairperson, Tariq Babitseng said if the club, was confused about where to pay, it should have sought clarity. Black Forest was eyeing promotion to the Premier League after successfully challenging the crowning of Letlapeng as First Division South champions. However, Letlapeng took the matter to the National Appeals Board, which is yet to make a ruling.
“Forest should be aware that they have not been promoted to the Premier League yet. They should have affiliated with us,” he said.
Babitseng said winning the case against Letlapeng does not automatically mean Black Forest is in the Premier League. Forest will have to play a decider as soft points cannot win them promotion he explained.
Forest manager, Mompati Ditiro said they are affiliated with their region. He said when they approached the Premier League to affiliate, they were informed that they could not do so as the First Division committee was still to confirm their status. He complained that the committee is delaying to implement the decision of the Disciplinary Committee (DC) that found Letlapeng guilty in the case filed by Forest.
“We have reported the matter to the DC. The committee should have long written to the Premier League to confirm that we have been promoted. Despite that, we still have time to affiliate because the deadline is August 30,” he said.
Ditiro said it is clear that the committee is hell bent on having Letlapeng in the Premier League, hence the delays. He said if the Appeals Board rules in Letlapeng’s favour, Forest will affiliate with the First Division. Hence it will be up to the First Division South committee to decide their fate.
The committee has been accused of failing to call a convention by May 30 to elect new officials and receive the financial report. Babitseng said they did not hold a convention because of the pending Letlapeng-Forest case. He said the Botswana Football Association granted their request to postpone the convention that constitutionally should be held before June 14.